You can only live by the Spirit if you have first been born into the dimension of the Holy Spirit. Without His help, you are spiritually dead and therefore incapable of experiencing and responding to the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit fills you, everything changes. The early disciples were in no doubt about the radical transformation brought by the Holy Spirit. Let’s look in this week’s teaching at the book of Acts and learn how we can all live by the Spirit.
Further Scripture:
Ephesians 2:4-5, John 20:22, Acts 1:4-5, 8:14-16, 10:44-46, 19:1-6
Key Points:
1. You need to be Born Again through the Holy Spirit (John 3:4-8); 2. You need to be Baptised in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4); 3. You need to Believe to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38-39)
Apply The Word:
Are you filled by the Holy Spirit? Paul asked in Acts 19:2 “did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” We can be a follower of Christ and not yet be filled with the Spirit, but Jesus commanded us to wait for the Holy Spirit, who is our helper as we live for God. If you have not yet received the Holy Spirit, take time (as a group, with your leader, or individually in your devotional time) to pray and seek the great gift of the Holy Spirit. When you seek and wait on God, He will send His Holy Spirit.
What is your experience of walking with the Holy Spirit? Read Acts 2 and see what happened when the Holy Spirit came on the disciples. He came as a violent wind, as fire, and He caused the disciples to speak in tongues. This can be our experience of the Holy Spirit today too. You will know when you’re filled by the Holy Spirit; His fire will bring purity and light to your life to reveal the darkness, and you will speak & operate in a manner which is completely different to the normal or natural way of things. You will be changed for the better when the Holy Spirit baptises you and releases you into a new dimension of living by the spirit. Apply these three points and scriptures and seek daily to Live By The Spirit. Be born again by the Holy Spirit, be baptised with the Holy Spirit, and believe to receive the Holy Spirit.
